Birding can be accomplished on foot or by car (up to 1 mile, where the main road dead ends). During wet periods, water can fill up the ponds and waterfowl, waders, and shorebirds may be present. The trail extending east from the primary parking area to Alazan Bayou can be excellent for migrants during spring and fall. The trails on the west side of the main road provide viewpoints of more secluded ponds and during migration may have hundreds of Indigo Buntings in the tall grass between the main road and the raised observation tower.

Listen for Sedge Wren in flooded grassy areas. Check more swampy regions for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Barred Owl, Summer Tanager, Hooded Warbler, and Acadian Flycatchers. In winter, listen for Virginia Rail and Sora at dusk and for Pipits flying overhead.

ENTIRE AREA CLOSED: Oct. 28-Dec. 22.

The Alazan Bayou WMA has 2,063 acres located in southern Nacogdoches County. The WMA was purchased in 1991 to preserve mature bottomland hardwood forests adjacent to the Angelina River. In addition to the Angelina River other significant drainages include Loco Bayou and Moral Creek. The bottomland forest typically begins to flood during mid winter as the river and bayous overbank and inundation continues through early spring. Hunting is permitted with an Annual Public Hunting Permit (APH) and some special permit hunts may be offered. Check the Outdoor Annual and the Public Hunting Lands Maps Booklet for information on methods, species, seasons and bag limits.

There are three main access points to Alazan Bayou WMA. The westmost access point is the picnic area a quarter mile east of the Stephen F. Austin Experimental Forest entrance. This area is short loop surrounded by open grassy patches and containing a handful of short trees. The primary entrance is another quarter mile east of the picnic area and is the main access point for the caliche road that connects the main parking area to to the rest of the trails in the WMA. The final access point is 0.8 mi east of the primary entrance and is a short paved road that ends at the parking area of the WMA headquarters.

Many Texas Wildlife Management Areas are open for activities such as biking, primitive camping, birding, fishing, hiking, equestrian activities, driving tours, and wildlife viewing.

Many times you need minimally a Texas Limited Public Use Permit (LPU - #175). You can purchase a Limited Public Use Permit or Annual Public Hunting Permit at any location that sells hunting licenses or at the Texas License Connection. If purchased online a representation of receipt is acceptable until official printer version has been mailed to you. In some cases it's not obvious when you need a permit for a Texas Wildlife Management Area so it might be better to be safe, because Texas game wardens do check for such permits.